Introduction

Iron is the main ingredient of steel wool. It is shiny, flexible, and a good conductor of electricity. When you send enough current through it, though, it bonds to oxygen atoms in the air to make iron oxide. The results of this process are shown below.

Activity

Follow the directions on how to create iron oxide from steel wool. Take a picture that clearly shows some of the original steel wool and some of the iron oxide, label the two materials, and upload it here.


Describe the differences between the two materials. Make sure you notice changes in:

• flexibility;
• shininess;
• electrical conductivity.